"I think that New Mexico was the greatest experience from the outside world that I ever had.
It certainly changed me forever ... The moment I saw the brilliant proud morning (sun) shine high up over the deserts of Santa Fe,
something stood still in my soul."
~D.H. Lawrence

The interior of St. Francis Cathedral Basilica in Santa Fe is an architectural and artistic wonder.

When we were there on Dec. 22, the mood was festive inside the cathedral - tourists looking around, workers putting final touches on the Christmas decorations, children practicing for their Christmas performance at Mass.

The new renovations/restorations as well as the Christmas decorations looked amazing.

When we returned for Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, the mood was much more formal, worshipful and joyous.

We wondered about the Chihuahua in the nativity scene - sure there is an interesting story behind that!

Sitting at the eastern end of the Santa Fe Plaza, it is an imposing site.

When the City of Santa Fe was founded in 1610, the first church was built on this site, to be replaced by another in 1630, which was ddestroyed in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. The next church built here was in 1714, and was named in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Santa Fe. The only part of this church still existing is the small adobe chapel dedicated to Our Lady La Conquistadora.

The First Bishop of Santa Fe was Father John Baptiste Lamy of France, who arrived in 1850. He ordered a new Romanesque church built, and brought French architects and Italian stonemasons to build his Cathedral. Construction of the Cathedral began in 1869 and continued until 1887. Dedicated in 1887, the Cathedral’s spires were never completed due to lack of funds.

The Cathedral was elevated to a Basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. Basilica means a church of particular importance in Rome and abroad.

During the past year, much renovation has been done on the cathedral in preparation for the 400th anniversary of the church and the city in 2010.

Inside and out, the cathedral basilica is an architectural wonder, and we who live in Santa Fe can be immensely proud of it. I never tire of going there. We visited the church this past week - and enjoyed seeing it all decorated for Christmas.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Built in 1939 and dedicated in 1940, the adobe church, on upper Canyon Road just east of the downtown area, is an impressive monument to the Spanish-Revival period of northern New Mexico, and features a great stone retablo behind the altar, which faces east and is illuminated by the morning sun shining through the clerestory windows.

Over 150,000 adobe bricks were used in the construction of the church, and were made on the site and laid by the parishioners. The building of the church was completed in 14 months.

The retablo was carved in 1760 by artisans employed by Governor Francisco Antonio Martin de Valle. The stone came from a quarry northeast of Santa Fe. The large crucifix which hangs to the right of the retablo, was moved from a chapel at Valencia, New Mexico in 1938.

We were at Cristo Rey this past week. Dressed up for Christmas, the church was even more special and beautiful than ever.